Twenty-sixth Amendment to the United States Constitution
The Twenty-sixth Amendment to the United States Constitution established a nationally standardized minimum age of 18 for participation in state and local elections. It was proposed by Congress on March 23, 1971, and it was ratified by three-quarters of the states by July 1, 1971.
The Twenty-sixth Amendment in the National Archives
A voting age in law is a minimum age established by law that a person is allowed to vote in a democracy.
Demonstration in favor of lowering the voting age by members of NYRA Berkeley, California (2004)